911 operators’ role often undervalued, researchers find
Ayrel Clark-Proffitt / Arizona State University News
November 10, 2025
When a person needs emergency services, the first person they speak with is rarely a firefighter, police officer or paramedic. It’s a 911 operator or call taker, broadly called public safety communications personnel.
Common street names and the confusion they can cause for centralized 911 dispatchers
John Shumway / CBS News
November 7, 2025
Pop quiz: What is the most common street name in the United States? From town to town, and community to community, street names repeat, and that can create a problem for emergency responders.
Now, why would we ask this question? It's become a challenge for 911 and emergency response. In Allegheny County alone, there are 130 municipalities, and plenty of repeated street names.
First Contact: How 911 Operators Support Public Safety
Staff / MacArthur Foundation
November 10, 2025
The people who answer 911 calls and handle emergency radio operations are often the first point of contact for the public in an emergency, but these professionals are an overlooked element of public safety. A report on public safety communications personnel looked at how their professional discretion and standard 911 protocols impact the criminal justice system by influencing what services people access and how responding officers approach a situation.
Automated answering system to handle nonemergency calls at Summit County 911 Center
Kyle McCabe / Summit Daily
November 9, 2025
As part of an effort to achieve “sustainable staffing goals,” the Summit County 911 Center will use an automated nonemergency triage system to answer calls from the county’s nonemergency number.
Scott County sees smoother emergency response after 911 merger
Ellie Mueller / KFVS 12 News
November 8, 2025
SCOTT COUNTY, Mo. (KFVS) - Just over a week after Sikeston’s Communications Center officially took over all 911 dispatching for southern Scott County, officials say the transition has gone smoothly, and emergency response times are already improving.
The merger consolidates dispatch operations from multiple agencies into one central location, allowing the Sikeston Department of Public Safety(DPS) to handle every emergency call across the county.
Belmont County 911 soon to have new radios
Gage Vota / The Times Leader
November 13, 2025
ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County Board of Commissioners approved a proposal and signed an agreement with Motorola Solutions on Wednesday for $4,351,615 for 604 radio replacements for Belmont County 911.
As smart devices change emergency calls, 911 centers must adapt
Dru Clarke / EMS1
November 6, 2025
From wearables to voice assistants, a new wave of device-initiated calls is changing how dispatchers respond – and why better tech and training are crucial now.
Former 911 dispatcher raises protocol concerns over Delta County sheriff incident
Robbie Patla / KJCT 8 News
November 11, 2025
DELTA, Colo. (KJCT) - A former Delta 911 dispatcher who says they responded to the call involving the Delta County Sheriff during a September 15 dispute raises concerns over protocol.
The dispatcher, who requested anonymity, said they immediately recognized signs of a disturbance.
News 911 Emergency Communication Center delivers dispatchers space, technology updates
Keegan Turnbough / KCRG News
November 6, 2025
DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) - Dubuque celebrated the opening of its new 911 Emergency Communications Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday, marking the completion of a project the county has discussed for more than a decade.
The facility at 7880 Chavenelle Drive features updated work stations for dispatchers who answer 911 calls in Dubuque County.
Boston 311 Services Shaped by Adaptable, AI-Powered Platform
Julia Edinger / GovTech
November 11, 2025
Boston’s new 311 system replaces one that could no longer deliver on the city’s needs. The no-code platform leverages AI to help officials be more efficient and agile as these needs evolve.
Longtime resident says overgrown lot creates safety hazard
Rylee Kramer / WAFB News
November 12, 2025
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - A 71-year-old woman who has lived in her home for 47 years says an overgrown lot next to her house has become a safety hazard and a hiding place for teenagers. Stella Jackson said the lot has become a breeding ground for rats and roaches. She has asked the city multiple times to help clean up the property.
Long hours, tough calls are way of life for 2 rural Missouri EMS stations
Susan Szuch / Springfield News-Leader
November 14, 2025
It's the last day of an unseasonably warm September and MacKenzie Williams is near the end of her 12-hour shift at the Washington County Ambulance District Headquarters in Potosi, Missouri. She's currently studying to become a paramedic, and immediately after this shift ends, she'll start another 12-hour shift as an emergency medical technician.
Zohran Mamdani wants social workers responding to 911 calls – but test program is already failing
Hannah Fierick and Matthew Fischetti / NY Post
November 13, 2025
Mayor-elect Zohram Mamdani wants to deploy social workers instead of police officers to respond to 911 calls — but the controversial plan has already been operating in the Big Apple and is failing.
The early results of a program dubbed B-HEARD spell trouble for Mamdani’s proposed $1.1 billion Department of Community Safety (DCS), a signature imitative that his newly announced chief of staff and left-hand woman Elle Bisgaard-Church helped craft.
Phone Surcharge Would Fund Clark County, Nev., 011 Overhaul
Ricardo Torres-Cortez / Gov Tech
November 13, 2025
Clark County first responders report their current 911 infrastructure is long overdue for a digital transformation. The county proposes a $1 monthly fee per telephone line to help offset costs.
Multiple communities experiencing 911 outages Thursday
Dean Welte and Gabriela Quinones / KTIV.com
November 13, 2025
SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - Sheriff’s offices across Northwest Iowa are reporting 911 outages.
Starting at about 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, 911 outages started getting reported by several agencies.
So far, Woodbury, Sioux, Emmet, Cherokee, Dickinson, Osceola, Plymouth and Palo Alto Counties have reported that landline 911 calls are not getting through to their offices. They are recommending residents call 911 through a cell phone, or you can call their offices’ non-emergency numbers.
Fayetteville, Cumberland County revisit joint 911 center discussion, plan to continue merger talks
Penelope Lopez / ABC11 News
November 13, 2025
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- After years of debate over whether to consolidate their emergency dispatch services, Fayetteville and Cumberland County officials agreed Thursday afternoon to explore the possibility of creating a joint 911 center.
New Text to 911 service allows you to reach help without cell reception. Here’s how it works
Jeff Stitt / WPBF News
November 13, 2025
Have you ever been in or traveling through an area where there is no or low traditional cell service and thought, “What if I had an emergency and needed to call 911?”
Now, because of a well-known cell service provider’s connection to a popular network of satellites, there’s a solution when you have an emergency and are off the grid and out of reach of a terrestrial cell tower’s signal.
Jefferson County to upgrade 911 system with new fiber network
Alex Taylor / WTRF News
November 13, 2025
STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — Jefferson County Commissioners heard from emergency officials Thursday about long-needed upgrades coming to the county’s 911 system.
Here’s Carmel 311 and How it Works
John Herrick / 93.1FM WIBC News
November 13, 2025
CARMEL, Ind.–The City of Carmel has started Carmel 311, a free mobile app that allows people to report issues, request government services, and receive real-time updates from city leaders.
Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam stated that the app facilitates real-time communication between residents and the City team.